Chapter Two
Will
There was something comforting about being in the company of my sister and her best friend. They gave zero fucks about what I did for a living. If anything, they made fun of the fact I had a billboard with my face on it when you drove into the city. This trip was exactly what I needed—to be a normal human and not a damn athlete who someone always wanted a part of. The fame was great at first, fun even, but now being recognized everywhere was draining. My trust for strangers was non-existent, and my neck tightened thinking about the damn tabloid.
I forced a deep breath and took in the scene—the blue waves, the sand, the wind hitting my face, and the sun beating down on me. The Chicago winter was brutal, and the warmth seeped into my bones, reviving me.
A couple walked along the water, the two of them laughing, and I watched as a woman ran alone. She jogged and had her phone out pointed in our direction. My skin got hot.Was she taking pictures of us?Fuck.
I gritted my teeth, but she kept jogging and then she was gone. Paranoia crept down my spine at the thought of being photographed without permission again. The last woman I slept with… fuck, she messed with my head. She cashed in those intimate photos without a second’s hesitation.
Pictures I never gave her or consented to. Sexting had a time and place, but I wasn’t an idiot. I never created anything that could be used against me, yet the fame-seeking woman lied to me, took photos without my permission, and leaked them after a few nights of rolling around naked. Violated, used, and disgusted didn’t begin to cover how awful the entire thing felt.
I needed a week away from it all, from our family trying to lecture me about privacy while also trying to help me. Away from the city and the fans who wanted a photo at every coffee shop. My sister and Lexi would take care of anyone who got too close. Knowing they would always have my back brought me a sense of security.
I eyed the pair of them and regretted it because it brought my attention to Lexi’s incredibly curvy body.
The woman was all lush curves, and learning about her insecurity unsettled me. She was beautiful with her bow lips and red hair, but hearing about how Ashton treated her had me clenching my fist. Every time I saw her, whether we grabbed lunch together or she came to a game, she wore clothes too big that hung off her in unflattering angles, and the woman had curves. Lots of them. Everywhere. Front, back, sides, and fucking hell, I shouldn’t be thinking about my sister’s goddamn best friend.
Unsettled.
Lexi made a noise in the back of her throat and rolled over, pushing her long hair off her shoulder. The movement gave a great view of her large ass. My gaze lingered there for one second, okay two, before I dragged my gaze up her back and to her neck. The skin tinged red there, and we hadn’t even been out that long.
“You need more sunscreen on your neck, Lex. Already burning.” I reached over and brushed a finger over the spot. A spark of electricity flowed from my finger to my chest, and I yanked it back. For the life of me, I had no idea why I made that gesture. To see if her skin was as soft as it looked? To make sure she didn’t miss the spot?
Yeah, I was concerned about the health of her skin. That made sense.
Insert eye roll here.
I cleared my throat and went with it. I pushed up onto my knees, got the spray out of the bag, and shook it. “Okay, brace yourself.”
“I’m braced,” she said, her normally raspy voice somehow lower. Like maybe she felt that zing when I touched her skin. I didn’t trust my judgement though. Last time I did, my dick pic ended up all over the web.
She wiggled on the towel, bringing my attention to her ass again, and my gut tightened withhunger.Jesus. She was my sister’s best friend. I forced back the inappropriate thoughts threatening to overtake my mind and focused on the task.
The spray hit her right where it was reddening, but the lotion needed to be rubbed in. Without thinking, again, I massaged the lotion into her very smooth skin until the white disappeared. Her neck was so soft and hot, and my dick twitched when she let out the tiniest moan. There was no reason why I should want to hear Lexi groan like that again. None. I grabbed my beer and took a long swig, needing the moisture on my throat. “There, you’re good,” I said, my skin flushing at the absolute pathetic attempt to hide my sudden attraction.
“Thanks. So brotherly of you to watch out for me,” Lexi said, her spine as straight as an umbrella stand.
“Uh, speak for yourself. He doesn’t give a shit if my skin burns. I think he has a fondness for redheads. Must be all the freckles,” Charley said, not opening her eyes or moving. She missed the glare I sent her way. “Remember that girl in high school who had the fire-engine red hair?”
“Oh yeah. Ruby was her name,” Lexi said, snorting. “Will had thehotsfor her but she was so not into him.”
“He tried so hard. God, I haven’t thought about her in years,” Charley said, pushing herself up and giving me a long look. “Don’t frown, Willy. Not everyone could cherish the ground you walk on.”
“Fuck off,” I said, fighting the smile. It made me happy to see Charley with a huge grin on her face, even if the joy was at my expense. “Ruby was too focused on studying to visit the bleachers with me.”
“Okay sure, if that helps your ego.” She shook her head before laying back on the towel, and I smiled at the memory. She might have a point. I did have a thing for redheads, and my sister’s beautiful best friend fit the bill.
Lexi kept her head down, facing my sister, and I tried to relax again. Sighing, I stretched my arms over my head and ignored the vanilla scent of her hair every time the breeze picked it up. I was here to relax and let the news settle down. That was it.
Thinking about Lexi trying to hook up and get her confidence back should be easy. We’d go out, have drinks, and boost her up. There was no reason for the small ache in the back of my head. None at all.
* * * *
Charley blasted upbeat music in the condo and waltzed around carrying two large cups. My sister liked to party, and she always had, but a part of me worried she was taking this break up thing too far. She was tough but had a huge heart, and Derick messed her up. My baby sister could pretend she was fine, but she wasn’t, and I refused to let her do something she’d regret. “One of those glasses better be water, sis.”
“Pipe down, buzzkill. Take off your athlete hat for the week.” She glared at me, making me feel bad for a second, and shoved a cup toward my face. “One is Gatorade. I want to get drunk but not feel hungover tomorrow. I’m not a total idiot.”
